86 iMONOGRAPH OF 



they had been blended in Arum and Caladi- 

 um. The whole tribe of Aroides was in utter 

 confusion ; but is rectified in my Flora Tellu- 

 riana. 



PELTANDRA Raf. meaning shield sta- 

 mens, 1819. Arum L. &c Calla Mx. Caladium 

 Elliot, Lecontea Torrey 1824, Renselaria 

 Beck 1833. 



Spatha narrow involute tubulose, side split 

 spadix inclosed quite geniferous, terete obtuse, 

 pistils inferior, stigmas sessile capitate. An- 

 thers confluent (sterile at the end of the spadix) 

 peltate crenate multilocular on the sides. Ber- 

 ries globose unequal 1 to 5 ovate seeds. Sea- 

 pose leaves simple commonly cuspidate, root 

 tuberose. 



Remarks. This Genus includes several aqua- 

 tic plants or growing in damp soils and mea- 

 dows, while the other Aroides commonly avoid 

 the Waters. They may be known by this pe- 

 culiarity even out of bloom, as also by the cus- 

 pidate leaves. The berries are green and con- 

 taia a jelly with commonly several seeds, but 

 oflen one only by abortion. Those seeds were 

 eaten by the Indians, even the leaves are edible 

 when boiled; the roots are thick, and tuberose, 

 but not properly turnip like as in other Aroides. 

 The flowers are vernal, and last only a few 

 days in May or June, they do not bloom every 

 year. Michaux reduced them to Calla that 

 has mixt flowers and a style, because one sp. 

 has a fiat spatha as Calla ; this may form a 

 Sub Genus. 



Leucospatha, Spathe cuculate, end dilatate, 

 4 to 5 seeds — Peltandra, spathe involute, end 

 narrow, 3 to 5 seeds. 



Renselaria, Ditto, Ditto, 1 or 2 seeds. 



